Safe.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903. T. SCOTT.

SAFE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB. '1. 1903.

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PATENTED JUNE 3.0, 1903;

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T. SCOTT.

SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. '1, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 3o, 190el PATENT OFFICE.

; SAFE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,660, dated Tune 3A0, 1903.

Application filed March 7. 1903.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, THE'ODORE SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Union township, in the countyof White and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safes, of'which the following l is a specification.

My invention relates to fire and burglar proof safes; andthe ,object of the same is to provide means for lowering and raising a safe into and out of an underground vault, preferably a vertical shaft, and for securing the safe in place when up ordown.

The simple and novel vconstruction employed by me in carrying out my invention is fully describedand claimed in this specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my vault with the safe lowered and locked therein. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the safe raised. Fig. 3 is a detail of the safe. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the shaft and safe. Fig. 5 is a detail of the sectional rod, together with a fragment of the safe. Fig.'6 is a detail of the dog, showing antifriction-rollers.

Fig. 7 is a detail o f the friction-brake.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts in thedifferent views of the drawings.

The numeral 1 designates a, verticalshaft extending from the ground or basement door level to a depth greater than the height of aV safe, but preferably to a much greater depth. Vertical` guides 2 are located on opposite sides of the shaft and are engaged by brackets 3, carried by a safe 4. The guides 2 and brackets 3 permit the safe to slide vertically, but hold it against all transverse movement. A cable 5 is connected to the safe 4 andpasses up and around a drum 6, which may be providedwith a pawl and ratchet. A crank 9 serves to operate the drum 6. In case a heavy safe is employed suitable gearing would be provided intermediate the crank 9 and the drum 6.` By means of the crank 9, drum 6, and cable 5 the safe 4 can be lowered into or raised out of the shaft 1.

In order to lock the safe against removal from the vault 1, an ordinary time-lock may be provided or a novel lock, to be described, employed. This lock consists of a conical receptacle l0, containing water, which recepta- Serial No.146,620. (No model.)

cle has a small aperture 10a in the bottom 1ocated just over a cup 11, carried by an arm 12 of a lever 13, fulerumed intermediate its ends on a shaft 14. The other arm of the lever 12-.is designated 15 and bears a series of graduations 15a, which coperate with a weight 16, adjustably mounted on the arm 15. The shaft 14 is provided with arms 1'7, which are pivoted to connecting-rods 18, which are connected to pivoted catches19, having noses 19a, which extend through apertures 2O in the walls of the safe and normally engage recesses 21 in the walls of the shaft-1.

- To operate my lock,thereceptacle 10 is filled with water before lowering the safe `into the shaft lby means of the drum-6 and crank 9. The safe is then lowered into the shaft 1, when the catches 19 will drop into the recesses 21. The water will then. drip out of the receptacle 10 'and be caught by the drip-cup 11; but until enough water is in the cup 11 to overbalance the weight 16 to operate the connecting-rods- 19 to retract the catches the safe 4 cannot be raised ont of the shaft. The time which must elapse between the lowering and the raising of the safe is therefore determined in advance, and this time interval may be varied by adjusting the weight 16 on the arm 15.

To enable the safe to be raised should the cable 5 be broken, a rod 22, constructed in sections, is screwed in an aperture in the top of the safe.

To enable the safe to be suddenly dropped into the vault, as in case of lire or threatened burglarly, a counterpoise 24 of a little less weight than the safe is connected thereto by a cable 25, passing over the drum 6. A dog 26 ismounted on a level with the bottom of the safe when raised and arranged to engage the bottom of the safe to support it. A cord 27 is connected' to lthe dog 26. It passes through guides and is connected to pedal28, located to be operated by the cashier-or some other bank oicial. vIn case of emergency it is only necessary to press the pedal 28 to withdraw the dog 26 to release the safe 4 and permit it to descend into the shaft 1, when it will be safe against fire or burglars.

As an additional safety device, a frictionroller 29, provided with a friction-tire, such as rubber, is mounted adjacent to the drum 6 and in contact with the rim thereof. The

roller 29 is supported by a guide member 30, which has a slot 31 therein, within which a box 32 is slidingly mounted and serves as a bearing for the roller. A set-screw is connected to the box and serves as a means for regulating the friction between the drum 6 and the roller 29.

I do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these may be modified in many particulars Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a safe, of an apertured receptacle carried by said safe and designed to hold Water and release it b v drops, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a shaft bearing arms, a drip-cu p mounted on one arm of said lever, a Weight mounted on the other arm of said lever, catches located to engage the walls of a vault to prevent the removal of the safe, and rods connecting said catches and said crank-arms, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination ofa shaft, a safe slidingly mounted in said shaft, means for raising and lowering said safe, an apertured receptacle for containing Water carried by said safe, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a shaft bearingcrank-arms, a drip-cup carried by one arm of said lever, a weight adjustably mounted on the other arm of said lever, catches located to engage recesses in the walls of said shaft, and rods connecting said catches and said crank-arms, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a safe slidingly mounted in a shaft and having a compartment containing a time-lock comprising a receptacle for containing Water and having an outlet-aperture therein, a lever carrying a drip-cup on one arm located to catch the drippings from said receptacle, a Weight adjustably mounted on said lever, catches mounted to engage the walls of said shaft, vertical arms carried by said lever, and rods connecting said catches and said last-mentioned arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- DGSSGS.

THEODORE SCOTT. lVitnesses:

BENJAMIN T. CARR, S. A. CARSON. 

